FSX/FSX-SE Aircraft and Panel Design Forum - How To

HeyIm writing a fsmodule to FS2004. I have encountered some problems witha window on top of FS created by another process than FS's.Currently the program is loaded in to fs as an DLL placed in the modules folder.From the dll i create a window that is placed on top of FS (with ParentWindowset to FS's HWND). Now, here everythings works fine, except that every timei run one of my functions, the FS drawing routine is not called, which makesFS freze in a couple of mili seconds (FPS drop).Because of limitations in BCB6 i cannot run my window in a seperate thread,therfore i want my application to interact with FS as a seprate process.It also makes a lot of other things much easi…

Is this: PELEMENT_HEADER eng_oil_temp_needle_list[] ={ &eng_oil_temp_needle.header, NULL}; equivelent to: PELEMENT_HEADER eng_oil_temp_needle_list = &eng_oil_temp_needle.header; in the sense that they could be used interchangably? I realise the array form would be used when there were non-overlapping sub-elements, but it seemed my gauge does not work with the 2nd form. Why?

I've had an idea for a possible guage control but am not yet familiar enough with the panel SDK to know whether the variables are available to allow it.In the real world, at some non-controlled airports, I believe there can be a Pilot Controlled Lighting system available. This allows the approaching pilot to turn on runway lighting by a series of microphone clicks whilst tuned into the Unicom frequency of 123.00. Does anyone know if any link exists in the SDK that will allow airport lighting to be controlled by a gauge control or module? It would make for an interesting feature. From what I've seen of the SDK though I'm fairly convinced it's far too limited to allow this,…

I like to fly the airplanes I flew in the real world, many years ago. I find that the settings in FS are often not at all like they were in the old classics.In the Super Connie I am presently trying to tweak, just a touch on the up elevator trim on my yoke produces too much of a change in trim. I'd like to make the reaction of that button to be more similar to the original Connie than it is.In the aircraft.cfg file, the value of the item labeled "elevator_trim_effectiveness" is 1.000. Would changing that value to something less than 1.000 result in a slower turning of the trim wheel?I can find nothing in the .cfg file that indicates the rate at which the elevator trim is …

I need an XML timer that will turn ON a variable for X seconds every Y seconds. So far, I've been unsuccessful in this venture.I want to create a "fake ATC interrogation request" every 40 seconds or so, and have the "R" displayed for about 5 seconds or so.This is such a trivial bit of code in C, but I just can't seem to get my head wrapped around the solution! :(I do know that it requires two timer circuits; one to initiate the "Interrogation," and another to keep the "R" displayed for 5 seconds, and that the "R" timer needs to be nested in the "Interrogation" timer.I'd be deeply grateful for any help! ;)

Has anyone found a limit to the number of aircraft entries possible in one Aircraft.cfg file? Is it possible to have over 50 entries or even 100 entries?

I'm trying to make an EICAS panel gauge and I'd like to label the N1 gauges with the percent symbol since that is how they are marked on the real acft. Not having any luck though because nothing shows up on the gauge when I simply type % as the string. I'm wondering if there is an "escape sequence" or something, similar to those used in HTML for < and > that will display the percent symbol?Of course I could always make a small bitmap of the symbol, but thought I'd ask here first.Thanks for the help,Jim

Do you know if reading a P variable from a C/C++ code can be done? If yes, how?For example, if I want to read the TIME ZONE OFFSET variable, I can do it in XML:(P:TIME ZONE OFFSET, minute)But can I do the same from C/C++ ?Thanks !!Eric

Hello there,I've been posting an idea that I want to implement for FS9; See thread "dll modules adding to gameplay" in the general forum.I've started implementing the module and I get along quite well, there's just this one thing that does not want to show it's mystery to me: How can I access the more elaborate GPS data, like a list of nearest airports, etc. The panel SDK includes the gpsinfo thingies, but those are old (fs2k/fs2002) and only give access to basic GPS info, especially waypoint info, etc.I've been disassembling the gps.dll that comes with FS9 and I can see that there's a lot of strings in there that have exactly those names (NearestAirport* and a whole lot …

Hi all,I noticed that in some gauges you can pass an argument to the gauge by adding the argument at the end of the gauge definition in the panel.cfg. I would like to implement this in one of my gauges, but how do you read/use that argument in the gauge itself ?Thx for the help,Bj

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Are there any alternatives to the MAKE_STRING callback method for inserting strings in C?I'd like to "label" a gauge bezel without having to write 60 MAKE_STRING functions.There are 30 text labels needed, and the "night version" needs to be RGB 180,180,180 (softer white), so that means 60 bloody callbacks! :(

Hello guys, I need your help again. I am trying to achieve a VSI needle animation in my Primus 1000 CDS PFD. The problem is that the VSI scale is not round like a conventional VSI, but it is straight.(see attached picture) I have tried the GDI+ way of rotating a needle with its centerpoint shifted, but it would mean an unnecessary rotation on the x-axis, when this animation is more of a y-axis translation. I am stumped on how to get this needle to animate properly, as I am not so frantic on the y-axis animation. Thank you very much for your help in advance.Sincerely,Tiberiu Brasovhttp://forums.avsim.net/user_files/118839.jpg

Hello :) I don't know why this is happening, because it doesn't affect any other aircraft :-hmmm. I have set the "VMO" to over 900Kts, and the "MMO" to mach 3.19. I get an overspeed warning at Mach 1.8, which is well below the VMO and MMO :( :-hmmm I did this test @ 45,000ft.How can I fix the problem?Thanks!

I have been simming for many years, but other than downloading an occasional panel, I have done virtually nothing with panels. I own the Bill Lyons Sikrosky S-43 and also his Grumman Goose. The S-43 does not have a heading indicator on the panel, other than the magnetic compass which is very difficult to read when flying, but the Goose does. On another aircraft I own, someone sent me a file that swapped the Turn and Bank indicator with a ADF indicator. What I would like to do is the same thing with the Sikorsky, swapping the Grumman Goose Heading indicator with the Turn and Bank in both the 2D and 3D panels. Is there a tutorial or some stuff I can read that would teac…

I am working on a project where I would like to eliminate the cockpit and virtual cockpit views entirely. All I want is the spot and tower views available. Another possibility would be if I could change the zoom or eye point so that the panel and virtual cockpit were not visible in the forward views. If any of this is possible I'd sure appreciate knowing how to accomplish them. Thanks, regards, Bob.

One freeware programme that I find very useful to "modify" bit maps in GAU files is called "Resource Hacker" - found here http://www.users.on.net/johnson/resourcehacker/ I use it to unpack a bitmap out of a GAU file and then modify it using a graphics programme - Resource Hacker then lets me pack it all back up again. I commonly place some indentifying marks on some gauges - especially ASI's to give me a reminder of important speeds - like max gear down, etc. I know that this isn't probably really very true to real life - but I have so many good freeware and payware a/c that I don't get to fly some of them very regularly and I forget their important speeds.I have used it…

Has anyone created a "copy" of one of the "low-end" EFIS gauges such as those sold by Dynon, Blue Mountain Avioncs, or Grand Rapids Technologies?I've searched Avsim and that other place, and have found nothing.Thanks in advance for your replies.Philip Causey

Thanks Roman for your simple but great distance measuring gauge contained inOdometer.zip !!!I have been wondering for years how to best accomplish what your tool does. My first statistic already shows my Do 128-6 is 97% spot-on for Flaps UP TO ground roll and 99.7% accurate for Flaps 1 TO ground roll. 50ft obstacle is next in line. Test flying really is hard work...Roman, you're real deep into what Dai Griffiths called the "Lateral Thinking Corner" in his gaugehlp series, GREAT stuff you are coming up with!!! :-)

I have limited experience in programming (i.e. C++ in UNIX and VB in Windows).I've been researching all the incredible quality gauges that you can buy for FS2004, specifically the ones from RealityXP and now this TCAS gauge (http://www.leftseatsimulations.com/tcas791.htm). Why do programmers use GDI+? Isn't DirectX an accelerated graphics API that FS runs on? Would vector gauges better function if they were accelerated by DirectX instead of GDI+? Also, does GDI+ do more than just vectors? I'd like to create life sized steam gauge instruments that update at 30-60 fps. Most gauges (compiled, or XML) update far too slowly and are too rough to be useful for IFR training…

Forgot to check the code snipet box. Sorry! Below is the original.*******Hi all. My first post here, so thanks for taking the time. I'm working on a Navy/Hornet-style HUD for myself, for carrier landings, which possibly I'll release as freeware if it's good enough. I'm almost finished with it, and it works great. EXCEPT... heheh.... the velocity vector needs some tweaking.My main question:1) Is [TrueHeading - ArctanWorldVelocities] equal to the [HeadingDegreesGyro - MagVar - ArctanworldVelocities]? I'm thinking no, or else MS would've used the simpler version in their 747 ground track code. They used DegreesGyro - MagVar. Why?? I can't figure out why the two values wouldn…

I downloaded the SR-71 by Richard Barker (updated for FS9 ACOF by Bob Chicilo) and I was wondering if it's possible to add landing lights effect (effect lighting the runway not lights on the aircraft skin). Does that have to be in the model.mdl, the *.air, in the aircraft.cfg or the panel.cfg ???I tried a bunch of things... to no avail!!!Any ideas...Thanks

Is there any way I can load the Mobile Control Tower without the model? The bus model interferes with what I want to do with it. I want the panel and all of the goodies but no bus showing. I tried making an empty model file, making blank texture files, etc. to no avail. I got error messages that the model could not load. Can anyone tell me how to get around this problem please. Thanks, regards, Bob.

Hello,I am a 3dartist using 3dsmax. I would like to take a fs9 aircraft and open it into 3dsmax/gmax. Does exist a tool that makes it possible preserving textures coordinates?RegardsLuca Zappala'

Guys,I have been downloading several panels from this avsim library, I can say I am pleased the work that author did. But I would much rather to design panel on my own. Is it possible? I wish to design MCP with acturate buttons, PFD with TCAS, and Standby.... maybe additional overhead and center pedestal functions. If so... where can I start learning, any suggestion. Your help is appreciated